Forrester didn’t make the final cut, but he still sees manager Martin O’Neill’s initial interest as a massive bonus.

Ireland’s loss is Posh’s gain though as Forrester will now be available for the live televised League One fixture against Coventry at the ABAX Stadium tomorrow (March 25).

“It’s unbelievable for me to even make the initial Ireland squad,” Forrester stated.

“Growing up as a kid I remember watching Ireland at the Euros Finals and wondering if I’d be good enough to play for them one day.

“Maybe one day I will and getting noticed is a big step in the right direction.

“I picked up an injury at Millwall recently which set me back a couple of weeks fitness-wise.

“I then didn’t play to my best in the time before the Ireland squad was reduced in szie which probably didn’t do me any favours.

“But it’s a positive that Ireland were even thinking about me and it’s up to me to get back to the form that got me noticed in the first place.”

That form is certain to make Forrester one of the front-runners for the end-of-season Posh player-of-the-year awards.

And that in itself is a fine achievement for a young player who had to adapt to a whole new country, new club, new team-mates, and a new lifestyle when joining Posh in September..

He even had to get used to a new playing position as he was quickly converted from the free-scoring attacking midfielder who used to thrill League of Ireland crowds for St Patrick’s Athletic to a disciplined holding midfielder in a diamond formation.